In addition to the recent static abstracts, I'm working out some new ideas about rooftop water tanks and cities' relation to water. Below a very rough start to a mixed media painting that I started this afternoon.
This has been a month of abstract experiments and trying out new ideas for paintings. For the last few weeks I've been working and re-working the below paintings. I've been using different techniques such as masking, screen printing, drawing with paint markers and conte crayons to build up the many layers.
You can see through to previous layers much like what you might see on an old building with peeling paint and old signage or paste-ups. Still more to go on all of these (or maybe they'll morph into something else). There's a lot going on in these (and on my mind lately) so I'm calling them Static Abstractions.
I've been in more of an experimental mood lately. I'm working on a series of abstract paintings but have also been creating the drawings below based on photos I took of the L tracks, steel bridges, water tanks and rooftops - focusing on the older city infrastructure. These follow a couple of other abstract paintings based on the L tracks.
I'm working to loosen up while also abstract the boring day-to-day city images we barely even notice. All images below are made with charcoal and acrylic paint on record album covers. You can view each drawing from the city abstracts series here.
Here is a shot of them all laid out on my studio floor:
For the last few weeks, I've been working on a series of abstract paintings. I originally started with a bunch of sketches of abstract forms and organic shapes then moved on to the paintings. Still more layers of paint to go but here's where things are at...
These are on record album covers:
This one is on wood panel:
These are on canvas panel:
We're having our Fall Open Studios at the Cornelia Arts Building this Friday night. Details below...
Cornelia Arts Building Open Studios
Friday, October 5, 2012
6pm - 10pm
1800 W. Cornelia
Chicago, IL 60657
We painted our studio and did some re-arranging - come check it out. Studio #201 on the second floor at the top of the stairs. We'll have some wine and snacks.
I'll be showing cityscape paintings, photos, and screen prints along with abstract face paintings. Here's a sneak peek:
The SamichBox food truck will be outside selling sandwiches. Plus, live music on the porch by "Old Town Pickers" (6-8pm) and "The As Is Collective and Wednesday Mornings" (8-10pm).
Street parking is easy and free on the surrounding neighborhood streets. Or, take the bus or L to Addison stop on the brown line. Walk one block south.
Here's a map.
Hope to see you!
This past week, I started a new series of paintings - abstracted images based on photos I shot of the L tracks. The two below were created from photos and sketches I made of the Brown Line near my studio.
After working on a very detailed skyline commission painting the last couple months, I attempted to loosen up and to create something more abstract but still recognizable. I used oil bars and acrylic on panel so the media is also somewhat of an experiment. Just changing to using oil bars gave me a more direct interaction with the image through drawing, smearing and mixing the colors with my fingers.
When placed next to each other, the wires and sharp angled lines move your eye around each painting and back-and-forth between each painting. By keeping it loose and exaggerating the shapes, I was able to give these paintings a sense of movement.
These two pieces have given me a new jumping off point both in media and subject matter. More city abstracts to come...
My photograph, Chicago Ave. L Stop, is now up as part of a show at South Loop Acupuncture. It was selected through my representation by Chicago Art Leasing. The image is part of my colored cityscapes series.
The Chicago Ave. L Stop on the Brown Line is one of my favorite stops. Located in River North, it's near the gallery district and a block away from where I worked my first job in the city.
We visited Glen Arbor, MI and the Sleeping Bear Dunes with my wife's family over the long Labor Day weekend. Staying in a house in the woods about 4 miles outside of town was relaxing, active, busy, and rejuvenating all at once.
This is the house we stayed in:
There were bike rides through hilly towns and bike paths, kayaking along the Crystal River, boating and tubing on Glen Arbor lake, and being the only people swimming at a secluded Lake Michigan beach.
What stuck with me was being surrounded by beautiful nature created after the last ice age was inspiring. It felt good to be out of the city and in a new place to think and clear the head.
I even had some time to create some sketches.
Looking forward to see how the new inspiration influences my art.
